1 . How we eat is changing drastically. A few years back, food delivery was limited to pizzas and a few Chinese dishes. But the advanced technologies, user-friendly apps, and the internet have dramatically changed the restaurant industry and delivery platforms.     1    So, let us look at the various features of food delivery that make it so popular.

Convenience

It is a fact that all of us are having a very busy schedule. In many families, both of the partners are working and may not have enough time to cook food.    2    In such situations, online food delivery comes in handy. The customers need not go outside and wait in long queues. One could buy their favorite food by sitting in any part of the world.

No pressure buying

Every business booms on promotion.     3    When we enter a shop, we can see promotional videos and pallets (托盘) on display. These pallets are strategically placed in the shop to attract the customers. Most often the customers are attracted by these promotions and end up buying the product. Usually, we end up buying things that we don’t use.     4    

Growth of the restaurant industry

    5    . The wide reach of delivery services put restaurants more visible and thus will help in attracting new customers. Restaurants will be able to increase their sales and improve the overall income of the restaurant. By partnering with third-party delivery platforms, the restaurants can save their marketing costs as well.

A．Promotion does not always work.

B．Now everything is available within our reach.

C．The restaurant and grocery industry are no different.

D．Online food delivery brought them great convenience.

E．But with online shopping, we do not buy a product on our impulse.

F．Neither do they have time to go out and order their food from outside.

G．The restaurant industry has also been profiting from the booming food delivery services.

2 . Where to Eat on Christmas Day in London?

Bob Bob Ricard

The best choice for smaller child-free parties—or pairs—that think of Christmas as an excuse to enjoy distinctly adult treats, let’s say: caviar, oysters, steak, followed by cheese and fries, all washed down with wine (ordered by pressing a button, obviously).

Location: 1 Upper James St, Soho, London W1F 9DF, UK

Contact: 020 3145 1000

Min Jiang Restaurant

If a typical modern Chinese banquet (宴会) is required to refresh the family’s Christmas spirit, book a table atop the Royal Garden Hotel and look out over Hyde Park while sharing a feast that includes traditional Chinese dishes. Since it’s Christmas, it’s probably worth going all out by pre ordering a whole or hall Beijing (Peking) duck, too.

Location: 2-24 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 4PT, UK

Contact: 020 7361 1988

The Alexandra

A special case: The Alexandra in Wimbledon offers a wonderful Christmas dinner to anyone spending Christmas Day alone, no charge under whatever circumstances. It is a place of spirit, refuge, and generosity.

Location: 33 Wimbledon Hill Rd, Wimbledon. London SW19 7NE, UK

Contact: 020 8947 7691

The Pem

Sally Abé’s newest restaurant is serving up a classic three courses in Westminster, for £130 a head (children under six, free if accompanied by adults). Guests can choose between smoked sea fish and crab mousse or a special ham for a starter, with bee Wellington or a plate of goose coming as main dishes, followed by Christmas pudding and ice scream. We offer a 10% discount if the total cost is over £500.

Location: 22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH, UK

Contact: 020 3301 8080

1. Which number should you dial if you love Chinese food?

A．020 3145 1000.

B．020 7361 1988.

C．020 8947 7691.

D．020 3301 8080.

2. What can The Alexandra provide for a homeless man on Christmas?

A．A family banquet.

B．A wine party.

C．A living place.

D．A free dinner.

3. How much should two couples with a 4-year old pay for their dinner at The Pem?

A．£468.

B．£520.

C．£585.

D．£650.

3 . A McDonald's restaurant has been rated one of the worst in the UK, out of 1,300 of the chain's outlets. The restaurant in question is in Kingswinford near Dudley, and Birmingham Live reports it has attracted a rating of just two.

    1     Birmingham Live Reporter Dayna Farrington found when she went to see it for herself…

Setting

As I walked into the restaurant itself. I noticed it was fairly busy for nearly 11：30 a. m. on a Tuesday in January. It looked clean and well organized. I didn't see any messy tables, or food left lying around. The outside was also tidy - no overflowing bins or rubbish dumped.     2     I'd definitely seen worse McDonald's in the past.

Service

There was no one serving behind the counter when I arrived at the restaurant, only those handing out the orders.     3     It might be a sign of the new Covid times as you have less interaction with others.

Having read reviews on TripAdvisor about items being missed from orders and cold food, I wasn't holding out too much hope.     4     Upon collecting my order, it looked as if everything was there. And it was—there was nothing missing from my order. So good start so far. I tried the large chips first which came with the main meal. These were piping hot. I also tried some hot chocolate. It wasn't the nicest drink I've ever tried, but it was ok.

Overall

So I headed to the Kingswinford branch full of fear of what might be in store after reading the overwhelmingly terrible reviews on TripAdvisor.     5     It was not as bad as the reviews made out.

A．But is it really that bad?

B．Would the restaurant be messy?

C．For first impressions, it didn't seem too bad.

D．But, I have to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised.

E．So I had to use the self-service screens, which was no big issue.

F．Even the most latest reviews from December are very negative.

G．Yet within minutes, I was being presented with a large tray of food.

4 . Home delivery meal kits have been one of the bits of the pandemic: they have enabled diners to carry on getting a taste of restaurant-quality food, while helping restaurants to stay in business, and even make you an excellent chef. Here are four of the best offering delivery in our region:

Berenjak (berenjakbazaar.com)

“The kabab kits from this London-based Iranian restaurant — which range in price from £25 to £45 — are a ‘class act’,” says Jay Rayner in The Observer. “My kit even included a pair of plastic gloves for me to wear while dealing with the raw meat. This is the best kind of meal kit — the cooking is fun, and the finished product is utterly delicious.”   

Gujarati Rasoi (gujaratirasoi.co.uk)

“I love this vegetarian restaurant,” says Marina O’Loughlin in The Sunday Times. “And its meal boxes are ‘electrifyingly good’ too. Family boxes for four cost £65, and I especially love the starter (£15.50). The dishes were complicated, yet quite easy to cook.”

Lyle’s (lylesprovisions.com)

“This Michelin-starred London restaurant delivers its ‘exquisitely delicious’ menu boxes each Friday,” says Xanthe Clay in The Daily Telegraph. “At £140 for two, they aren’t cheap, and with multiple courses, they do take a bit of work and concentration to cook.”

Santo Remedio (santoremedio.co.uk)

“Order a Remedy kit from Santo Remedio and what you will get is an incredibly generous, sharing-style Mexican feast for two,” says Anna Lawson on BBC’s “Good Food”. “The kits come with a choice of slow-cooked meat, accompanied by all the ingredients to make your own pancake. Preparation is simple, thanks to a colour-coded instruction.”

1. What can be found in all the introductions to home delivery meal kits?

A．Small gifts.	B．Cooking instructions.
C．Nice discounts.	D．Personal recommendations.

2. People who favor Mexican food may go to ___________.

A．Berenjak

B．Gujarati Rasoi

C．Lyle’s

D．Santo Remedio

3. Who are the potential target readers of the text?

A．Restaurant cooks.	B．Trainee chefs .
C．Ordinary housewives.	D．Hotel managers.